Just the ‘Bear Necessities’ in our rainwater pond
Joanne Wood, our Partnerships Delivery Manager, explains how two rescued bears, Benji and Balu, swapped Azerbaijan for the Isle of Wight, have been keeping cool this summer in a new rainwater pond.
Joanne Wood, our Partnerships Delivery Manager, explains how two rescued bears, Benji and Balu, swapped Azerbaijan for the Isle of Wight, have been keeping cool this summer in a new rainwater pond.
Recent rain showers have been welcomed at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary because they have helped top up the special rainwater harvesting system we installed earlier this year.
Its tanks are fed by run-off from the café roof, before it makes its way down to the bear pond, keeping the animals happy and refreshed – and reducing the demand on local water resources at a time of hosepipe bans for households across the Island.
And now we have the pictures to prove it, as the bears enjoy a cooling splash! They even made an appearance on BBC One’s ‘The One Show’ this month.
Our £200,000 grant helped Wildheart install a Sustainable urban Drainage System or ‘SuDS Safari’ – of which the bear pond is one part – and retains rainwater and promotes biodiversity at the same time.
Other interventions include permeable paving, rain gardens, and even a pond filled with wetland plants that fills and empties with the weather.
This results in less pressure being placed on the sewer network, reducing the risks of flooding and storm overflows.
Joanne Wood, our Partnerships Delivery Manager at Southern Water said: “It has been so exciting to help the Sanctuary and its amazing animals. Managing the water cycle better here will in turn help the environment beyond its boundaries, reducing the number of storm overflows and flooding incidents which will all contribute to healthier rivers and seas on the Isle of Wight.”
